Annex 2

Action plan for the control of trade in elephant ivory¹

1. All elephant range States² , and other Parties and non-Parties with an ivory carving industry or internal trade in ivory that is unregulated, should urgently:

a) prohibit the unregulated domestic sale of ivory (raw, semi-worked or worked). Legislation should include a provision which places the onus of proof of lawful possession upon any person found in possession of ivory in circumstances from which it can reasonably be inferred that such possession was for the purpose of unauthorized transfer, sale, offer for sale, exchange or export or any person transporting ivory for such purposes. Where regulated domestic trade is permitted, it should comply with the provisions of Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP 15 ) (Trade in elephant specimens);

b) issue instructions to all law enforcement and border control agencies to enforce existing or new legislation rigorously; and

c) engage in public awareness campaigns publicizing existing or new prohibitions on ivory sales.

2. All elephant range States are recommended to cooperate with relevant research projects studying the identification of ivory, especially by supplying relevant samples for DNA and other forensic science profiling.

3. The Secretariat should seek the assistance of governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations in supporting the work to eradicate illegal exports of ivory from the African continent and the unregulated domestic markets that contribute to illicit trade. The Secretariat shall also, if requested, work with the relevant countries in Africa and Asia to provide technical assistance for the implementation of this action plan. It shall provide similar assistance to any other Parties that have an ivory carving industry or internal trade in ivory. The Secretariat shall also continue its work, in conjunction with national, regional and international law enforcement organizations and networks (such as the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network, ICPO-Interpol, Lusaka Agreement Task Force and the World Customs Organization) to assist in combating illicit trade in ivory.

4. From 1 January 2008, the Secretariat shall undertake work to assess progress made with the implementation of the action plan. Where appropriate, this shall include in situ verification missions. Priority should be given to assessment of States that are identified during research by the Secretariat and through other appropriate sources of information to have active and unregulated internal markets for ivory or to be significantly affected by illicit trade in ivory. Particular priority should be given to Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Thailand and any other country identified through ETIS as being significantly affected by illicit trade.

5. In cases where relevant Parties or non-Parties are found not to implement this action plan, or where significant quantities of ivory are found to be illegally sold, the Secretariat shall, following consultation with the Standing Committee, issue a Notification to the Parties advising that the Conference of the Parties recommends that Parties not authorize commercial trade in specimens of CITES-listed species with the State in question.

6. The Secretariat shall report upon the implementation of the action plan at each regular meeting of the Standing Committee.


¹	Note from the Secretariat: this Annex was originally adopted at the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP13) and amended at CoP14 and CoP15.
²	Except any Party for which an annotation in the Appendices authorizes trade in worked ivory.